A smartphone is only as good as its battery. After all, without any power, it's just a good-looking brick. While most modern smartphones have decent battery life, you shouldn't buy a phone purely for the battery capacity alone.

So for this list, we've also taken into consideration the general performance of the handset, as well as its availability in the USA. And keep in mind, a higher mAh count doesn't automatically mean longer battery life; there are other factors at play too.

1. Motorola Moto G7 Power

Battery capacity: 5000mAh

Motorola launched a battery-focused budget phone, the Moto G7 Power, which promises up to three days of power on a single charge. The mammoth 5000mAh battery, coupled with a power-friendly Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 processor, should be sufficient for that.

Reviewers are almost unanimous that the Moto G7 Power is the smartphone with the longest battery life. In GSMArena's battery tests, it scored an endurance rating of 147 hours, which is the best among phones of this generation. Consumer Reports also rated it the phone with the best battery life.

The value of this phone lies in the low price and the extended battery. It has a mid-range camera and screen, so if media is more important to you than battery life, you should look at other options in this list.

2. Samsung Galaxy S10+

Battery capacity: 4100mAh

If you're looking for a flagship phone with amazing battery life, get the Samsung Galaxy S10+. Although the 4100mAh battery may seem on the small side for a flagship device, you will easily get over a day's worth of usage.

It scored high marks in the battery tests of GSMArena, Consumer Reports, and pretty much every other credible publication. If you check user reviews on Amazon or XDA Developers Forum, people can't speak highly enough of the outstanding battery life.

Needless to say, the camera is as good as it gets these days, the screen is vibrant, and the performance will not leave you wanting for an ounce more. There is nothing to complain about in this one, except for the hefty price tag.

3. Huawei Mate 20 X

Battery capacity: 5000mAh

Huawei and the US government aren't on the best of terms, but the Huawei Mate 20 X is one of the best phones you can get if you care about battery life while also getting top-notch features.

It scored 108 hours in GSMArena's battery tests, and it outscores the Moto G7 Power in most other respects too. You can shoot better pictures with the triple-camera setup aided by Leica optics, and you get a larger screen with a sharper resolution. There's even a higher-end processor too.

The downside of the Huawei Mate 20 X is that it hasn't officially launched in America, so if you decide to buy it, you will have trouble with warranty and service.

4. Samsung Galaxy A50

Battery capacity: 4000mAh

The Samsung Galaxy A50 is a great alternative to the Moto G7 Power, especially if you want a much better camera. The Galaxy A50 has a triple-camera setup, along with a 25MP front camera.

The phone scored 98 hours in GSMArena's endurance rating and lasted over six hours of screen-on time in Android Authority's mixed usage test. The handset is powered by an Exynos 9610 chip, comes with Android 9 Pie, and has a less bloated UI than Samsung phones usually come with.

But the most noticeable feature of the phone is the screen. The Super AMOLED 6.4-inch display is gorgeous, and you'll enjoy watching movies and shows on this. Plus, the U-shaped notch is pleasingly unobtrusive.

5. CAT Phones S41 (GSM)

Battery capacity: 5000mAh

Consumer Reports ranked the CAT Phones S41 second in its list of phones with the longest battery life. And that's not hard to believe, given its 5000mAh battery life and a comparatively smaller 5-inch screen.

CAT makes some of the best rugged smartphones out there, and the S41 is no exception. It is IP68 certified and can take drops from six feet and be submerged underwater for up to an hour.

This one is for users who spend time outdoors using GSM networks in the US, like AT&T and T-Mobile.

6. CAT Phones S48c (CDMA)

Battery capacity: 4000mAh

If you're on a CDMA network, the S41 won't work for you, so get the CAT Phones S48c. It looks a little more modern than the S41 and is upgradeable from Android 8 Oreo to Android 9 Pie. Consumer Reports also ranks this among the top five longest-lasting phones.

Most of the other features are similar to the CAT S41, such as the rugged protection it offers, the screen size and resolution, and general performance. The camera is slightly improved, but don't expect great quality images from either the S41 or the S48c.

7. Apple iPhone XR

Battery capacity: 2942mAh

Most tests put iPhones far behind the aforementioned Android smartphones in battery life. But if you want a bite of that Apple, the Apple iPhone XR is currently the king of battery.

Both the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max are better phones than the XR, and neither is a slouch in the battery department. But the iPhone XR edges ahead in all tests except in GSMArena's endurance rating, where the XS Max is pretty much equal.

The Best Battery Life Phone for You

While the above phones are the best you can buy when it comes to long battery life, there are other options. If you think you'll need a power-up while on-the-go, it's worth considering a power bank too.

No matter which phone you choose, it's going to run out of battery at some point. At that time, you'll be glad if you have one of the best backup battery packs for a quick recharge.